Seven Killed in Train Fire in Jharkhand

Ranchi: At least seven people, including two children, were burnt to death when two AC coaches of the Howrah-Dehradun Express caught fire early today in Jharkhand's Giridih district, police said. "Seven people, including two children, died after two coaches of the Howrah-Dehradun Express caught fire. Four bodies have been identified. The fire has been extinguished," D. Parwa Lakra, deputy commissioner of Giridih, told IANS over phone. The incident took place between Nimiyaghat and Parasnath railway stations. Two AC coaches caught fire around 2.30 a.m. A blast in a gas cylinder of one of the coaches is said to be the reason behind the incident. AC coach number B1 caught fire first which spread to the second AC bogey B2. Both coaches were badly burnt. High rising flames could be seen. "The AC of the coach was switched off and someone switched on the heater. We started feeling suffocated. We informed the TT about it. But no timely action was taken," a passenger travelling in the train told news channels. Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi announced compensation of 5 lakh for the kin of each of those killed. The railways also announced compensation of 25,000 each for the passengers of the neighbouring coaches "for the inconvenience they might have suffered", a ministry official said. Train services have been partially affected. Some of the services have been diverted. Authorities have issued a few helpline numbers -- Dhanbad: 0326-2220518, Hajipur: 06224-273293